News Analysis: UN needs shared responsibility for post-2015 development agenda

The United Nations, set up 70 years ago for world peace, needs "shared responsibility" among members to implement the "transformative" post-2015 agenda on sustainable development, a senior South Korean diplomat said.

The historic 70th session of the UN General Assembly kicked off at its headquarters in New York on Sept. 15, with a special summit set to be held for three days from Friday to adopt the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

The post-2015 development agenda, called SDGs, refers to a set of global goals to end poverty, protect the Earth and ensure prosperity for all people around the world. The 17 goals, aimed to be achieved over the next 15 years, will replace the landmark Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) set by UN member states in 2000.

The SDGs are "universal" as those apply to advanced nations as well as developing ones, and are "transformative" as the goals approach the end of poverty and hunger from economic, social and environmental perspectives, Lee Yong-soo, director-general for development cooperation at South Korea's foreign ministry, told Xinhua on Thursday.

The eight millennium goals, including poverty reduction, education, health and environment, focused on eradicating poverty and hunger for the poorest people in the poorest countries. Global attentions were paid to poverty thanks to the goals, contributing to reduce poverty.

"The MDGs made progress in terms of agenda-setting. Recognitions spread that poverty should be tackled jointly by the international society," said Cho Han-seung, political science professor at Dankook University.

The MDGs also concentrated on health as three of the eight goals were concerned with the health issues, such as reducing child mortality, improving maternal health and combating diseases.

The health-related goals in the MDGs converged into one at the post-2015 agenda for sustainable development, which shifted its focus to environmental protection. The move reflects the position of advanced nations, Cho said.

From the viewpoint of under-developed nations, economic development can face obstacles when global attention turns on environmental protection as the global economy still depends heavily on fossil fuels. They may see it as "kicking away the ladder."

The seventh goal for sustainable environment in the MDGs was expanded into seven goals in the SDGs, including clean water, clean energy, sustainable cities, responsible consumption and production, climate change, life in seas and life on land.

New three goals, applying to both developed and developing nations, were added to the post-2015 development agenda. Those include decent work and economic growth; industry, innovation and infrastructure; as well as reduced inequalities.

The focus on socio-economic issues was strongly affected by the 2008 global financial crisis, Cho said.

To successfully implement the fresh development agendas, UN member states should have the sense of "shared responsibility" for the post-2015 goals, the senior South Korean diplomat said. Advanced countries should provide official development assistance (ODA) as promised, while developing nations should make diversifying efforts, Lee said.

Lee noted that it will be mandatory for all stakeholders, such as governments, international organizations, the UN, civil societies and enterprises, to build a partnership and join the efforts to achieve the SDGs encompassing social, economic and environmental issues. Endi